Evie Summers
Kittens require a lot of sleep to support their rapid growth and development. A newborn kitten spends about 22 hours a day sleeping, and even at 6 weeks old, they still spend more than half the day napping. Kittens should sleep in a warm, comfortable, and secure place, and the specific location may depend on the kitten's age, health, and personality. For example, a cat bed that is low to the ground is generally recommended for young kittens, while adult cats often prefer to sleep on high perches. Kittens may also benefit from having multiple beds placed in different cozy spots around the home.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of sleep | 16-22 hours per day |
| Sleeping patterns | Short bursts of sleep, rather than long stretches at once |
| Sleeping environment | Warm, quiet, comfortable, and secure |
| Bed type | A cat bed that's low to the ground is best; additional beds in cozy spots are recommended |
| Bedding | Machine-washable |
| Bed placement | Somewhere they can sleep undisturbed while life goes on around them |
| Feeding before sleep | Wet food half an hour before bedtime |
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What You'll Learn
Kittens need 18-20 hours of sleep a day
Kittens need 18 to 20 hours of sleep a day, so it's important to create a cosy and safe space for them to rest. On their first night, kittens should sleep in a warm, quiet and comfortable space where they feel secure. You can prepare a 'kitten home' inside a large puppy crate for their first few days or weeks, especially if there are other pets or children in the home.
Kittens are crepuscular, meaning they're most active at dusk and dawn. They'll sleep for some of the night and take naps throughout the day. This sleep pattern allows them to recharge and hunt for prey when small prey species are most active.
Kittens should sleep in a low-to-the-ground bed, at least until they have good control of their movement. You can place their bed close to you and talk calmly to them until they fall asleep. Toys that mimic a mother cat's heartbeat can also be soothing.
Kittens tend to nestle under their humans, but it's best to wait until they're larger and can get in and out of bed on their own before letting them sleep with you. Kittens can carry parasites and infectious diseases that can be passed on to humans, especially those who are immunocompromised.
Kittens will feel sleepy after an evening meal. Feeding your kitten wet food half an hour before bedtime may help them settle down with a full tummy.
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A cosy, warm and secure bed
Kittens require a lot of sleep to support their rapid growth and development. A 6-week-old kitten will be in the process of weaning and will be perfecting its transition onto wet food. It will also have all its deciduous teeth, which will allow it to feed on wet food.
A cosy, warm, and secure bed is essential for a 6-week-old kitten. The bed should be placed somewhere warm and quiet, where the kitten can sleep undisturbed. It should be low to the ground, providing a sense of security. A kitten home inside a large puppy crate can be a good option, especially if there are other pets or children in the home.
Kittens are naturally active at night, so it's important to provide a safe space for them to sleep during the day as well. You can place additional cat beds in cosy spots around your home, such as on top of a flipped-over laundry basket or on the couch, to give your kitten options. Just ensure that the bed is secure if it's elevated.
To make your kitten's bed even more inviting, you can place an old t-shirt with your scent on it in their bed. This can be comforting to them, especially as they may be sleeping alone for the first time. You can also try toys that mimic a heartbeat to help soothe them.
It's worth noting that until they are about 6 weeks old, kittens need supplemental heat to stay warm. After this, they will be able to self-regulate their body temperature as long as they are in a room-temperature environment.
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Kittens are crepuscular, most active at dawn and dusk
Kittens sleep a lot—from birth until around two weeks of age, they sleep for around 22 hours per day. By the time they are three months old, they will only need to sleep for about 18 hours, and this number drops to 16 hours once they are six months or older. Kittens do not normally sleep through the night and will wake up fairly regularly, especially when they are in a new environment.
Kittens are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. This is different from diurnal and nocturnal behaviour, where an animal is active during the daytime and nighttime, respectively. The crepuscular habit may be an antipredator adaptation, reducing predation pressure and offering better foraging opportunities to predators that focus on crepuscular prey. Crepuscular activity can also be influenced by the lunar cycle, with animals becoming less active during periods of low light.
As a kitten grows, its sleeping habits will gradually settle into a pattern. It is important to allow them to sleep as much as they need to and never wake them when they are fast asleep. Kittens will sleep best if they have a cosy, snug bed or blanket, placed somewhere they can sleep undisturbed. It is also important to remember that kittens are usually not fully litter-trained when you adopt them, so it is helpful to choose a bed that is easy to clean.
To help your kitten sleep through the night, feed it wet food half an hour before bedtime so that it settles down with a full tummy. You can also try bringing its bed into your bedroom for the first few nights, so it feels comforted by your scent.
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Kittens should sleep separately from owners
Kittens have different sleep patterns than humans and are most active at dusk and dawn. They sleep in short bursts, taking naps throughout the day and night. This sleep pattern allows them to recharge and prepare for hunting. As such, it is important that kittens are allowed to sleep as much as they need to and are never woken up when they are fast asleep.
When a new kitten arrives, it may be the first time they have been separated from their mother or littermates, and they may feel anxious or stressed. It is important to prepare their environment before they come home, ensuring they have a cosy, snug bed or blanket, placed somewhere they can sleep undisturbed. It is also important to note that kittens are not usually fully litter-trained when you adopt them, so it is recommended to provide them with a bed that is easy to clean, such as a machine-washable one.
While some experts recommend bringing the kitten's bed into your bedroom for the first few nights, it is generally advised to let them sleep separately from their owners. This is because kittens sleep a lot, and their sleep patterns differ from humans, with them being most active at dusk and dawn. Keeping them in a separate room will allow them to sleep undisturbed and maintain their natural sleep patterns.
Additionally, kittens may feel more comfortable if their bed is slightly elevated, and a laundry basket with their bed placed securely on top can provide this. Having their bed close to you can also be comforting for them, as they may feel reassured by your presence and your scent. However, it is important to provide them with a separate space to sleep undisturbed, as their sleep is crucial for their development and growth.
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Wet food before bed helps kittens sleep
Kittens have different sleeping habits than adult cats. They sleep for up to 22 hours per day from birth until about two weeks of age, and by the time they are three months old, they will only need to sleep for about 18 hours. Kittens do not usually sleep through the night, and it is common for them to wake up frequently, especially in new environments. They are most active at dusk and dawn, sleeping for some of the night and taking naps throughout the day. This is because they are crepuscular, which means they hunt for small prey when these species are most active.
Kittens have a lot of energy, and they can be very active at night, keeping their owners awake. To help your kitten sleep through the night, you can feed it wet food before bedtime. This will give it a full tummy, and the protein in the food will slowly release energy throughout a 24-hour period, helping it to settle down for sleep. Conversely, dry food has a higher carbohydrate content that can quickly release unwanted bursts of energy when fed at bedtime, affecting how long your kitten sleeps.
You can also tire your kitten out before bed by playing with it for about 10 minutes, or playing hunting games with a wand toy or snake charmer. This will help your kitten get tired and slowly go to sleep at the same time as you. It is important to ensure your kitten gets enough exercise and stimulation during the day, as a bored kitten during the day will be hyper at night.
It is also beneficial to create a cosy and snug sleeping environment for your kitten. Their bed should be placed somewhere they can sleep undisturbed while life goes on around them. You can also place their bed close to you so that you can talk calmly to them until they fall asleep. Having a dedicated bed for your kitten is essential, and they tend to sleep better in snug beds with high sides or dome-shaped 'cave beds' that make them feel safe.
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Frequently asked questions
A 6-week-old kitten will still need supplemental heat to stay warm, so it's best to keep them in a room-temperature environment. Kittens should sleep in a warm, quiet, and comfortable space where they feel secure. A cat bed that's low to the ground is ideal, but some kittens might prefer a slightly raised bed.
Kittens sleep a lot! They spend around 22 hours per day sleeping from birth until about two weeks of age. By 6 weeks old, they'll still be sleeping for more than half the day.
Kittens will feel sleepy after an evening meal, so feeding them wet food half an hour before bedtime may help them settle down. You can also try bringing their bed into your bedroom for the first few nights and placing toys that mimic their mother's heartbeat in their bed.
Kittens tend to nestle under their humans, but it's best to wait until they're larger and old enough to get up and down from your bed on their own, typically around 6 months old. Kittens can carry parasites and infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans, so it's important to wait until they've had full health clearance from a veterinarian.
